'

"'The young gentleman had better pay me the round fifty he promised
me,' I grumbled in return, with that sudden change from indifference
to menace which I thought best calculated to further my plans; and
shouldering the miserable wretch aside, I stepped up to my companion,
who was still lingering in a state of hesitation among the gravestones.

"'Quick! Tell me the number and street which he has given you!
'I whispered, in a tone strangely in contrast with the angry and
reproachful air I had assumed.

"He was about to answer, when the old fellow came sidling up behind us.
Instantly the young man before me rose to the occasion, and putting on
an air of conciliation said in a soothing tone:

"'There, there, don't bluster. Do one thing more for me, and I will
add another fifty to those I promised you. Conjure up an anonymous
letter--you know how--and send it to my father, saying that if he wants
to know where his son loses his hundreds, he must go to the place on the
dock, opposite 5 South Street, some night shortly after nine. It would
not work with most men, but it will with my father, and when he has been
in and out of that place, and I succeed to the fortune he will leave me,
then I will remember you, and----'

"'Say, too,' a sinister voice here added in my ear, 'that if he wishes
to effect an entrance into the gambling den which his son haunts,
he must take the precaution of tying a bit of blue ribbon in his
button-hole. It is a signal meaning business, and must not be
forgotten,' chuckled the old fellow, evidently deceived at last into
thinking I was really one of his own kind.

"I answered by a wink, and taking care to attempt no further
communication with my patron, I left the two, as soon as possible,
and went back to the hotel, where I dropped 'the sport,' and assumed a
character and dress which enabled me to make my way undetected to the
house of my young patron, where for two days I lay low, waiting for
a suitable time in which to make my final attempt to penetrate this
mystery.

"I knew that for the adventure I was now contemplating considerable
courage was required. But I did not hesitate. The time had come for me
to show my mettle. In the few communications I was enabled to hold with
my superiors I told them of my progress and arranged with them my
plan of work. As we all agreed that I was about to encounter no common
villainy, these plans naturally partook of finesse, as you will see if
you will